Tree climbing support

Abstract

A climbing support is provided for aiding a climber in scaling a tree, a wooden pole, or like surface. In one embodiment, the climbing support is configured for one-handed use, so that the support can be initially driven into a tree and then tightened against the tree with one hand. The climbing support includes a step body that supports a threaded fastener and an anti-rotation projection or spike, which together can be used to initially support the step as the climber drives the fastener to secure the step along the tree. Optionally, the climbing support includes an elongate body with a plurality of step members and at least one fastener disposed along the body. The climbing support may further include a pivotable spike for engaging the tree or pole, the spike being lockable in an angled position to enable it to support a portion of a user's weight.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A climbing support apparatus for use in climbing a tree or pole, said climbing support apparatus comprising:
 an elongate body having a tree-facing surface and an opposing surface spaced from said tree-facing surface and facing in a generally opposite direction as said tree-facing surface; 
 a step member extending outwardly from said elongate body; 
 a fastener movably coupled to said elongate body, said fastener having a tip portion projecting through an opening formed in said tree-facing surface and a head portion spaced from said tip portion, said head portion spaced outwardly from said opposing surface in the generally opposite direction, wherein said tip portion is drivable into the tree or pole and is securable at the tree or pole to thereby attach the climbing support apparatus to the tree or pole; 
 a biasing element arranged around said fastener and held in compression between said head portion and said opposing surface of said body, wherein said biasing element urges said tree-facing surface against the tree or pole when said tip portion of said fastener is driven at least partially into the outer portion of the tree or pole; and 
 a spike at a lower end portion of said elongate body and configured for being driven at least partially into the tree or pole to stabilize said elongate body when said elongate body is mounted at the tree or pole. 
 
     
     
       2. The climbing support apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a standoff member coupled to said elongate body at said fastener and configured to engage the tree or pole and to maintain a space between said elongate body and the tree or pole when said fastener is secured. 
     
     
       3. A climbing support for use in climbing a tree or pole, said climbing support comprising:
 a body having an upper support surface, a tree-facing surface, and an outwardly-facing surface spaced from said tree-facing surface and facing in a generally opposite direction as said tree-facing surface, said tree-facing surface defining a first bore and said outwardly-facing surface defining a second bore; 
 a fastener movably disposed in said first and second bores, said fastener having a tip portion and a head portion spaced from said tip portion, said head portion spaced outwardly from said outwardly-facing surface and configured to facilitate rotation of said fastener, wherein said fastener is supported at said body in a manner such that at least part of said tip portion projects from said tree-facing surface of said body when a force is applied to said fastener in the direction of said tree-facing surface; 
 a biasing element positioned between said head portion and said outwardly-facing surface, wherein said biasing element urges said tree-facing surface against the tree or pole when said tip portion of said fastener is driven at least partially into the outer portion of the tree or pole; 
 a projection at said tree-facing surface and spaced from said fastener, said projection configured to engage the tree or pole when said climbing support is mounted thereat; and 
 wherein said body is configured to be engaged by a user's hand or a tool, and said tip portion of said fastener and said projection are configured to be driven against the outer portion of the tree or pole, whereby at least one of said tip portion of said fastener and said projection initially support said body at the tree or pole, and said projection limits rotation of said body relative to the tree or pole as the user rotates said fastener to drive said tip portion further into the tree or pole to secure said body at the tree or pole. 
 
     
     
       4. The climbing support of  claim 3 , wherein said fastener comprises a lateral projection that is spaced between said tip portion and said head portion, and that is configured to selectively engage said body to limit longitudinal movement of said fastener in said bore when said fastener is moved a predetermined distance, whereby said at least part of said tip portion of said fastener is prevented from retracting fully into said bore. 
     
     
       5. The climbing support of  claim 3 , wherein said body defines an opening below said upper support surface, said opening configured as at least one of (i) a hand-hold, (ii) a foot support, and (iii) a tool support. 
     
     
       6. The climbing support of  claim 5 , wherein said opening is configured as a tool support. 
     
     
       7. The climbing support of  claim 6 , further in combination with a tool having a handle portion and a fastener-engaging portion, wherein said opening of said body is configured to releasably couple to said fastener-engaging portion of said tool so that said tool can be grasped at said handle portion and used to drive the climbing support against the tree or pole, and wherein said fastener-engaging portion is configured to receive said head portion of said fastener to rotatably drive said fastener. 
     
     
       8. The climbing support of  claim 3 , wherein said tip portion of said fastener is at least partially threaded. 
     
     
       9. The climbing support of  claim 3 , wherein said biasing element is disposed around said fastener and is held in compression between said head portion and said outwardly-facing surface. 
     
     
       10. The climbing support of  claim 9 , wherein said biasing element comprises a coil spring having an inboard end disposed against said outwardly-facing surface and an outboard end disposed against said head portion of said fastener. 
     
     
       11. The climbing support of  claim 3 , wherein said head portion of said fastener comprises a non-circular head portion for engagement by a tool. 
     
     
       12. The climbing support of  claim 3 , further in combination with a support rack, wherein said opening of said body is configured to receive a portion of said support rack so that a plurality of said climbing supports are supportable at said support rack for storage of said climbing supports. 
     
     
       13. The climbing support of  claim 3 , wherein said projection comprises a spike having a sharpened tip. 
     
     
       14. The climbing support of  claim 3 , wherein said body comprises an elongate member defining said tree-facing surface and at least one step portion that extends substantially perpendicularly outwardly from said elongate member and defines said upper support surface. 
     
     
       15. A climbing support for use in climbing a tree or pole, said climbing support comprising:
 a body having an upper support surface, a tree-facing surface, and an outwardly-facing surface spaced from said tree-facing surface and facing in a generally opposite direction as said tree-facing surface, said tree-facing surface having an upper end portion proximate said upper support surface and a lower end portion opposite said upper end portion, wherein said tree-facing surface and said outwardly-facing surface define respective openings, and said body defining an opening below said upper support surface; 
 a fastener disposed in said openings, said fastener having an at least partially threaded tip portion projecting from said upper end portion of said tree-facing surface, and said fastener having a head portion spaced from said tip portion, said head portion spaced outwardly from said outwardly-facing surface and configured to facilitate rotation of said fastener; and 
 a biasing element positioned between said head portion and said outwardly-facing surface, wherein said biasing element urges said tree-facing surface against the tree or pole when said tip portion of said fastener is driven at least partially into the outer portion of the tree or pole; 
 wherein said opening in said body is configured to be engaged by a user's hand or a tool, and said at least partially threaded tip portion of said fastener is configured to be manually driven into the outer portion of the tree or pole, whereby said at least partially threaded tip portion of said fastener initially supports said body at the tree or pole; and 
 wherein said upper end portion of said tree-facing surface comprises an upper end that projects forwardly of the remainder of said upper end portion of said tree-facing surface, and that projects forwardly of said lower end portion of said tree-facing surface when said tree-facing surface is oriented vertically. 
 
     
     
       16. The climbing support of  claim 15 , further comprising a spike projecting from said body at said lower end portion of said tree-facing surface, wherein said spike is configured to initially support said body at the tree or pole, and said spike substantially prevents rotation of said body relative to the tree or pole as the user rotates said fastener to drive said at least partially threaded tip portion further into the tree or pole to secure said body at the tree or pole. 
     
     
       17. The climbing support of  claim 16 , wherein said upper end of said upper end portion of said tree-facing surface contacts the tree or pole and acts as a fulcrum as the user rotates said fastener to drive said spike into the tree or pole substantially simultaneously with said at least partially threaded tip portion of said fastener.